Method of Fungal Pathogen Control in Grass or Turf

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of controlling fungal organisms in turfgrass with imidacloprid and optionally one or more other fungicides.

1 . A method of controlling or suppressing a phytopathogenic infection of grass or turfgrass by a phytopathogenic fungal organism of the order  Heliotales  comprising applying a synergistically effective amount of a combination of (i) imidacloprid and (ii) optionally, a fungicide that is a polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide, a strobilurin fungicide, a phenyl-anilide fungicide, or chlorothalonil.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the combination is applied separately or sequentially.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the organism is of the genus  Sclerotinia  spp.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the organism is the species  Sclerotinia homoeocarpa.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fungicide is a polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide is mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb or zineb.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide is mancozeb.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fungicide is a strobilurin fungicide.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the strobilurin fungicide is azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, or trifloxystrobin.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the strobilurin fungicide is trifloxystrobin.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fungicide is a phenylanilide fungicide.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the phenylanilide fungicide is benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, boscalid, furalaxyl, metalaxyl, or metalaxyl-M.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the phenylanilide fungicide is metalaxyl.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the fungicide is chlorothalonil.  
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling or suppressing a phytopathogenic infection of grass or turfgrass by a phytopathogenic organism of the family Rhizoctonia or Pythium comprising applying a synergistically effective amount of a combination of (i) imidacloprid and (ii) a polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the combination is applied separately or sequentially.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the polymeric dithiocarbamate fungicide is mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb, or zineb.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the organism is Rhizoctinia solani.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the organism is Pythium aphanidermatum.  
   
   
       20 . A method of controlling a powdery mildew infection in turfgrass which method comprises applying an effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of imidacloprid to a turfgrass that is infected or expected to be infected with powdery mildew.  
   
   
       21 . A method of controlling  Curvularia  spp infections in a  Poa  spp. turfgrass comprising applying a composition consisting essentially of imidacloprid to the turfgrass.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the turfgrass is Kentucky bluegrass or bermudagrass.